The sense of anticipation in the air was palpable on a dreary Sunday evening in the heart of Boston’s theater district, as native Massachusetts son Oneohtrix Point Never, or OPN to his fans, was preparing to take the stage at The Royale to perform the penultimate show of his highly touted Again tour. Even for an artist as celebrated as OPN, it’s got to be special coming back home. He didn’t disappoint, and between the endlessly interesting soundscapes and mind-melting visuals (plus a well-delivered “let’s go Celtics!” shoutout from somebody in the balcony), I can’t remember the last time I’ve ..read more

One of the hottest new music venues in Chicago is the Salt Shedd. After renovating the old, iconic Morton Salt Shed factory off by the river with the skyline in the background makes for a wonderful ambiance. Walking into the main hall, there is plenty of space on the main floor to let loose but also bleacher seats should you need a rest. There wasn’t too much sitting though as fans came out in droves to support the spacey band known as STRFKR. Having spoken with band members Josh Hodges and Shawn Glassford last year, it was great to see them play live again on their current tour promoting the ..read more

One of the most miraculous aspects of art is that the artist has ownership over how they choose to express themselves. The artist determines the depth of their message, revealing their story, past hurts, and the subjects that haunt them to their listeners. British alternative indie-pop artist Rachel Chinouriri fearlessly pours her emotions into her debut album, What A Devastating Turn of Events, featuring 14 soul-stirring tracks.  Set for release on May 3rd, this record is a meaningful journey through Rachel’s world. Rachel doesn’t shy away from layering each track with luxurious harmonie ..read more

After working with industry power-houses such as Solange, Chance the Rapper, and Ani Difranco Jharis Yokley, or “your drummer’s favorite drummer,” has arrived with a well-awaited debut record ready to knock your socks clean off. Sometimes, Late at Night is a breakup album that can suitably be described as a boat ride through the tempestuous waters of a heartbreak. This genre-defying record is brimming with sincerity and a luscious sonic pallet, rich with uncompromising beats and texture for days. Paired with some simply delectable synth work by the Japanese keyboard wiz BIGYUKI, this album is ..read more

Folk-pop singer-songwriter and producer, Kacy Hill is set to unveil her fourth studio album, BUG, making its debut on May 3rd. The album boasts ten tracks showcasing cohesive instrumentation that beautifully complements Hill’s airy, ethereal, and thoughtfully controlled vocals. Kacy Hill boldly demonstrates her willingness to experiment with her vocals and the placement of instruments, treating BUG as a sonic wonderland brimming with infectious melodies, gritty guitar riffs, and celestial harmonies. Navigating through BUG is akin to wandering through a lush garden, where standout moments await ..read more

Salvador Navarrette, or as you may know him, Sega Bodega, has proven time and time again that he is more than capable of pushing the boundaries of electronic music. It seems that to him, the possibilities are limitless, and with each new release comes further elaboration of the emotional nuances that can be privileged by techno. His latest record is no different. Dennis, which came to him as a result of a manic episode, beautifully captures that chaotic and dissociative unrest. It effortlessly transports the listener through the rapturous highs and solemn lows of mania. Opening with “Coma Denn ..read more

“I need it. I need it.” are the opening lines to AG Clubs single “Barry” and they perfectly reflect my feelings towards this album. The AG Club shared a new record, Brodie World, this week. Before we can even get into the music on this record we have to talk about who the AG Club are and why you need to start following along with what they are doing. The AG Club are a hip-hop collective located in Southern California and what stands out about this group of talented youngsters is that the rapping is primarily done by only two of the members. These musical mastheads are Baby Boy and Jody Fontain ..read more

German music producer Parra for Cuva, real name Nicolas Janco, returns to us with a new LP, Mimose, out last Friday. Nicolas is well known for his melodic, dream-pop compositions, and his latest body of work is influenced by his time spent in Liguria, Italy. The LP is a sonic odyssey done in collaboration with orbit (Marcel Heym) and promises to transport the listeners to the Italian coast. In lieu of this new release, we chatted with Parra for Cuva about all things inspiration, collaboration, and upcoming projects. Nicolas and Marcel also provided some great imagery to set the scene.  Ka ..read more

Opening for WILLIS at Brooklyn Made on Saturday night, Friko shattered all ideas of what an opener should be. Hailing from Chicago, the trio played a mix of hit singles and songs from their full-length debut release, Where We’ve been, Where We Go From Here. The anchors of the band Niko Kapetan (vocals, guitar, keys) and Bailey Minzenberger (percussion) have been pouring their hearts into Friko since its inception in 2019. Their performance conveys all of the emotion invested in this sonic project. Kicking off the night with “Crimson to Chrome,” one could immediately feel that more than half of ..read more

The crowd murmured in the ornate Vic Theater in Chicago, awash in an end-of-work week weariness and waiting for the main event to appear. Halfway through their Heavy Heavy tour, Young Fathers strode into the blue haze bathing the stage. The murmur burst into a roar of applause. The sound of a synthetic organ undulated through the air as they kicked the night off with an electric “Get Started”.  As songwriters and producers, there’s no one who’s quite like Young Fathers’. Their sound defies classification, blurring the lines between hip-hop, punk, and gospel. Yet seeing them live, the Scot ..read more